Our six-point Lincoln GP debrief gives you the essentials in one quick read: McKay and Dickson’s first taste of glory, Wheelbase and Muc-Off tightening their vice-grip, and two emerging talents who lit up Michaelgate’s cobbles.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, ‘Britain’s monument’, never disappoints, and 2025 was no exception as James McKay and Lauren Dickson took their first National Road Series wins in front of raucous crowds basking in the glorious May sunshine. The 21 ascents of Michaelgate are guaranteed to create a number of talking points, and after unpicking the action, here are six takeaways from Sunday’s races.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 2025. Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
The perfect setting for the dawn of a new era
As domestic bike racing goes, there is nowhere as iconic as the cobbled climb of Michaelgate and the finish to the Lincoln GP. Set in the heart of the Roman city, the narrow side street, virtually unused for the rest of the year, comes alive on the second Sunday in May, transformed into a gladiator’s arena as the athletes climb through the sea of spectators to the shadow of the city’s imposing cathedral.
It was the perfect setting to usher in a new era in domestic cycling, old meeting new as the historic race kicked off the Rapha Super-League, a season long competition to crown the best domestic riders, testing them across a variety of terrains and formats.
The series is a serious commitment from one of the sport’s leading brands to not only revitalise, but show off cycling in the UK; the two races on Sunday demonstrating everything that is great about our domestic scene. The morning’s race brought confirmation of the growing standard in the women’s peloton, with the biggest crowds in a decade seeing more riders than ever before in contention as the laps counted down, while the afternoon’s open race was a literal scorcher. The swashbuckling nature of events that unfoded over the 13 laps was the definition of racing in the UK – brutal, unpredictable, and, as it was aptly described by one of our number, bonkers.
The Super-League continues next month with the Ronde van Wymeswold – an event only in its second year, but one of the most innovative on the calendar. With the opening round a huge success, more eyes than ever before will be on a National B stage race, something unthinkable only months ago.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 2025 – Handsling Alba Development Road Team. Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
A strong team is priceless
While last year’s winners Matt Holmes and Kate Richardson took victory with no, or few, teammates in support, this year’s races demonstrated the value of a strong team backing, with both James McKay and Lauren Dickson beneficiaries of the work done by their Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli and Handsling Alba Development RT teammates respectively.
Near perfect tactical displays were seen from both squads, with Mari Porton marshalling the day’s early break for Bob Lyon’s Handsling Alba Development RT, while defending champion Kate Richardson’s presence in the decisive break on the final lap ensured Dickson was the only rider in the move with a teammate, a huge advantage on final the 13km loop skirting around the Roman city; one which she grabbed with both hands on the final ascent to the finish.
With a host of potential winners, Wheelbase left no stone unturned in ensuring a rider clad in their distinctive green crossed the line first in the open race. Tim Shoreman set a strong tempo up Michaelgate long before the attacks started; Tom Armstrong and Aaron King placing themselves in moves as the race progressed. Their presence in front was felt in the peloton, Matt Holmes’ number one dossard weighing heavy on him as the former WorldTour rider felt every cobblestone under his wheels as the onus repeatedly fell on him to do the lion’s share of chasing, McKay and Tom Martin able to keep their powder somewhat dry for later battles.
In a frantic last few laps there was, almost without exception, a green jersey at the head of affairs – King, Martin, and McKay himself all spending time either out front alone or as part of the leading group, the plan ultimately coming together as fast finisher McKay entered Michaelgate for the final time with enough left to sprint up the punishing gradient to take a memorable victory for the Cumbrian squad.
Lauren Dickson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team). Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
Is there a race Lauren Dickson can’t win?
When Lauren Dickson sprung onto the scene atlast year’s Lancaster GP with an extraordinary second place finish, she looked every inch a superb climber, backing up that theory by equalling that result at the Ryedale GP.
However, on Sunday she was able to navigate the flat lands of Lincolnshire with seemingly consumate ease, never out of position heading into the iconic city centre climb of Michaelgate, sprinting up the final 200m ascent to take victory. This is only Dickson’s second year of road racing, the former triathlete starting her career strongly and seemingly getting better by the race. With a winter on the track benefiting her speed and racecraft, an impressive second place in the Pointe du Raz across numerous sectors of gravel highlighting her versatility, and now a National A victory to her name, the question is if there is a race the Scot can’t win.
James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli). Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
A welcome return to form for James McKay
You’d be hard pressed to find a more popular winner of the open race than James McKay, the 28-year-old admitting he had diamonds in his legs for the biggest race of his year.
It was McKay’s maiden National A win and marks a welcome return to form after an indifferent start to the season. Even after taking victory in the Timmy James Memorial Road Race a week prior to Lincoln, McKay entered Sunday’s race with a question mark over his form. The fast finisher was a hot favourite for the bunch sprint that ensued up Barber’s Hill in the National B race, which was marred by a strong northerly wind, thwarting any chance of a breakaway making it to the line. The Wheelbase rider ran out a clear winner ahead of Alex Peters in a dress rehearsal for their Michaelgate battle, but it was a result which told us little more than who crossed the line first.
Having narrowly missed out on the overall National Road Series last year to George Kimber, the Yorkshireman is now right back in the mix for the competition in 2025 and looks to be peaking at the right time ahead of a busy summer schedule. Few would bet against seeing more ‘McKay mania’ before the season is over.
Adam Howell (MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK). Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
Is the ‘new world disorder’ no more?
Prior to the East Cleveland Classic, McKay described the post-Saint Piran domestic scene as a ‘new world disorder’ on The British Continental Podcast, with a host of teams looking evenly matched ahead of the new season.
However, with two rounds of the National Road Series completed, it is now fair to say that both Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli and Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck have emerged from the pack and are the teams to beat for races going forward.
After a steady start to the season, Stu Reid’s Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli outfit looked every inch the domineering team their line-up promised for the first time this year on Sunday, taking the race by the scruff of the neck and keeping control of affairs in what was an exceptionally difficult race to read.
Keeping with them every step of the way were Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck, who currently top The British Continental rankings. Enjoying a brilliant start to the season, Adam Ellis’ team rode an aggressive race, and, like Wheelbase, had riders in every move, coming away with 5th, 6th, and 7th places and retaining the National Road Series lead with Adam Howell.
There is plenty of talent spread across the rest of the elite teams however, and the onus is now on squads like Raptor Factory Racing, who count no fewer than three Saint Piran alumni in their ranks, to catch up to their rivals as the season moves on at pace in June.
The brutal nature of Michaelgate makes the race a survival of the fittest, each ascent taking its toll on the riders. As such, it is a race where we’ve seen breakthrough performances from some of the sport’s brightest talents – Rowan Baker finishing in the top ten back in 2023 for example, the year when Robyn Clay also broke through, powering to the win from a breakaway.
This year again delivered new talent with Noemie Thomson, riding in just her second ever road race, finishing 6th, just 15 seconds off the winner, Lauren Dickson. Thomson also formed part of a breakaway earlier in the race, and with the ability to finish so strongly after such an effort, the potential for great things from the Southborough and District Wheelers rider is overwhelming. Which team can now secure her services and develop her talent?
In the open race few people would have had an Alexandre Mayer podium on their bingo card, and although the three time Mauritian national champion is vastly more experienced than Thomson, it is a breakthrough ride for the Foran CT rider.
Mayer came to race in the UK last year with the USKIS Saint Piran team after a host of impressive results in Africa and Asia, and earned a fan in Alex Richardson – the former Lincoln GP winner impressed at his strength in their training rides in and out of the capital. It is comfortably Mayer’s best result in a National A race, and as part of an improving Foran CT squad, he has the potential to cement his place as one of the scene’s key players as the season, and the Rapha Super League, hots up in June.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, ‘Britain’s monument’, never disappoints, and 2025 was no exception as James McKay and Lauren Dickson took their first National Road Series wins in front of raucous crowds basking in the glorious May sunshine. The 21 ascents of Michaelgate are guaranteed to create a number of talking points, and after unpicking the action, here are six takeaways from Sunday’s races.
The perfect setting for the dawn of a new era
As domestic bike racing goes, there is nowhere as iconic as the cobbled climb of Michaelgate and the finish to the Lincoln GP. Set in the heart of the Roman city, the narrow side street, virtually unused for the rest of the year, comes alive on the second Sunday in May, transformed into a gladiator’s arena as the athletes climb through the sea of spectators to the shadow of the city’s imposing cathedral.
It was the perfect setting to usher in a new era in domestic cycling, old meeting new as the historic race kicked off the Rapha Super-League, a season long competition to crown the best domestic riders, testing them across a variety of terrains and formats.
The series is a serious commitment from one of the sport’s leading brands to not only revitalise, but show off cycling in the UK; the two races on Sunday demonstrating everything that is great about our domestic scene. The morning’s race brought confirmation of the growing standard in the women’s peloton, with the biggest crowds in a decade seeing more riders than ever before in contention as the laps counted down, while the afternoon’s open race was a literal scorcher. The swashbuckling nature of events that unfoded over the 13 laps was the definition of racing in the UK – brutal, unpredictable, and, as it was aptly described by one of our number, bonkers.
The Super-League continues next month with the Ronde van Wymeswold – an event only in its second year, but one of the most innovative on the calendar. With the opening round a huge success, more eyes than ever before will be on a National B stage race, something unthinkable only months ago.
A strong team is priceless
While last year’s winners Matt Holmes and Kate Richardson took victory with no, or few, teammates in support, this year’s races demonstrated the value of a strong team backing, with both James McKay and Lauren Dickson beneficiaries of the work done by their Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli and Handsling Alba Development RT teammates respectively.
Near perfect tactical displays were seen from both squads, with Mari Porton marshalling the day’s early break for Bob Lyon’s Handsling Alba Development RT, while defending champion Kate Richardson’s presence in the decisive break on the final lap ensured Dickson was the only rider in the move with a teammate, a huge advantage on final the 13km loop skirting around the Roman city; one which she grabbed with both hands on the final ascent to the finish.
With a host of potential winners, Wheelbase left no stone unturned in ensuring a rider clad in their distinctive green crossed the line first in the open race. Tim Shoreman set a strong tempo up Michaelgate long before the attacks started; Tom Armstrong and Aaron King placing themselves in moves as the race progressed. Their presence in front was felt in the peloton, Matt Holmes’ number one dossard weighing heavy on him as the former WorldTour rider felt every cobblestone under his wheels as the onus repeatedly fell on him to do the lion’s share of chasing, McKay and Tom Martin able to keep their powder somewhat dry for later battles.
In a frantic last few laps there was, almost without exception, a green jersey at the head of affairs – King, Martin, and McKay himself all spending time either out front alone or as part of the leading group, the plan ultimately coming together as fast finisher McKay entered Michaelgate for the final time with enough left to sprint up the punishing gradient to take a memorable victory for the Cumbrian squad.
Is there a race Lauren Dickson can’t win?
When Lauren Dickson sprung onto the scene at last year’s Lancaster GP with an extraordinary second place finish, she looked every inch a superb climber, backing up that theory by equalling that result at the Ryedale GP.
However, on Sunday she was able to navigate the flat lands of Lincolnshire with seemingly consumate ease, never out of position heading into the iconic city centre climb of Michaelgate, sprinting up the final 200m ascent to take victory. This is only Dickson’s second year of road racing, the former triathlete starting her career strongly and seemingly getting better by the race. With a winter on the track benefiting her speed and racecraft, an impressive second place in the Pointe du Raz across numerous sectors of gravel highlighting her versatility, and now a National A victory to her name, the question is if there is a race the Scot can’t win.
A welcome return to form for James McKay
You’d be hard pressed to find a more popular winner of the open race than James McKay, the 28-year-old admitting he had diamonds in his legs for the biggest race of his year.
It was McKay’s maiden National A win and marks a welcome return to form after an indifferent start to the season. Even after taking victory in the Timmy James Memorial Road Race a week prior to Lincoln, McKay entered Sunday’s race with a question mark over his form. The fast finisher was a hot favourite for the bunch sprint that ensued up Barber’s Hill in the National B race, which was marred by a strong northerly wind, thwarting any chance of a breakaway making it to the line. The Wheelbase rider ran out a clear winner ahead of Alex Peters in a dress rehearsal for their Michaelgate battle, but it was a result which told us little more than who crossed the line first.
Having narrowly missed out on the overall National Road Series last year to George Kimber, the Yorkshireman is now right back in the mix for the competition in 2025 and looks to be peaking at the right time ahead of a busy summer schedule. Few would bet against seeing more ‘McKay mania’ before the season is over.
Is the ‘new world disorder’ no more?
Prior to the East Cleveland Classic, McKay described the post-Saint Piran domestic scene as a ‘new world disorder’ on The British Continental Podcast, with a host of teams looking evenly matched ahead of the new season.
However, with two rounds of the National Road Series completed, it is now fair to say that both Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli and Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck have emerged from the pack and are the teams to beat for races going forward.
After a steady start to the season, Stu Reid’s Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli outfit looked every inch the domineering team their line-up promised for the first time this year on Sunday, taking the race by the scruff of the neck and keeping control of affairs in what was an exceptionally difficult race to read.
Keeping with them every step of the way were Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck, who currently top The British Continental rankings. Enjoying a brilliant start to the season, Adam Ellis’ team rode an aggressive race, and, like Wheelbase, had riders in every move, coming away with 5th, 6th, and 7th places and retaining the National Road Series lead with Adam Howell.
There is plenty of talent spread across the rest of the elite teams however, and the onus is now on squads like Raptor Factory Racing, who count no fewer than three Saint Piran alumni in their ranks, to catch up to their rivals as the season moves on at pace in June.
Lincoln always produces breakthrough rides
The brutal nature of Michaelgate makes the race a survival of the fittest, each ascent taking its toll on the riders. As such, it is a race where we’ve seen breakthrough performances from some of the sport’s brightest talents – Rowan Baker finishing in the top ten back in 2023 for example, the year when Robyn Clay also broke through, powering to the win from a breakaway.
This year again delivered new talent with Noemie Thomson, riding in just her second ever road race, finishing 6th, just 15 seconds off the winner, Lauren Dickson. Thomson also formed part of a breakaway earlier in the race, and with the ability to finish so strongly after such an effort, the potential for great things from the Southborough and District Wheelers rider is overwhelming. Which team can now secure her services and develop her talent?
In the open race few people would have had an Alexandre Mayer podium on their bingo card, and although the three time Mauritian national champion is vastly more experienced than Thomson, it is a breakthrough ride for the Foran CT rider.
Mayer came to race in the UK last year with the USKIS Saint Piran team after a host of impressive results in Africa and Asia, and earned a fan in Alex Richardson – the former Lincoln GP winner impressed at his strength in their training rides in and out of the capital. It is comfortably Mayer’s best result in a National A race, and as part of an improving Foran CT squad, he has the potential to cement his place as one of the scene’s key players as the season, and the Rapha Super League, hots up in June.
Featured image: SWpix.com
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